From time to time our emergency services here on the island have major incident simulations so they are prepared for any eventuality. Obviously being an island we cannot expect help from neighbouring areas so the training is ongoing, there are probably about two 'major' incident simulations each year. For the past about nine years I have been a volunteer casualty which can be great fun.

On Wednesday we had one such simulation, the volunteers were briefed two weeks earlier as we were to be patients in the local hospital, we were each told why we had been admitted to hospital. I was told that I was a diabetic, had Hyperglycaemia and was confused and becoming more so. We were also told what would be happening, that is to say that there would be a fire in the ward kitchen and that the ward would be evacuated down two flights of stairs. Some of us would be bed-bound and would have to be pulled down the stairs on our mattresses.

We had to arrive at the hospital at 4pm in order for everyone to be prepared, some had to have plaster casts applied, I just had a simulated saline drip, one man had to don a bariactric suit to make him rather large. We all had to get into hospital gowns or hospital pyjamas, all brand new ones.

There is a ward currently being refurbished so they could use that so as not to disrupt actual patients or running of the hospital.

Once dressed we got into our beds and waited for the fun to begin. It didn't take long for some 'smoke' to start filtering into our three-bedded room. The fire alarm sounded and the smoke got denser out in the corridor. A nurse came in and shut the windows, said that there was an incident and we would be fine, just be patient, she then closed the door to keep the smoke out. Through the windows in the door we could see activity including the arrival of some firemen.

A couple of the women in the room started shouting "Get us out", I didn't shout as I really didn't know what was going on. Then it was our turn to be evacuated. Nurses came into our room and pulled out the straps which are under the mattresses then put pillows under where the straps would go, plus our medical notes, and proceeded to securely strap us onto our mattresses.

I was the first to be evacuated, it involved dropping the foot of the bed and tilting it so they could drag me off the bed. I was dragged out into the corridor and then along it to beyond a fire door, then left as they went to get more patients. Since I was supposed to be very agitated and confused I wasn't exactly being quiet; I appreciate that in real life for a person with these medical problems it isn't amusing and can be very distressing for family and friends; however I had to make an attempt to make it realistic. I had to keep it up for a couple of hours and probably bemused some of the emergency and hospital staff rescuing us. I kept demanding to be put back in my bed, I wanted my soup, where is my bucket, then the firemen went past me with firehoses which I immediately decided were snakes so I must be on the 'I am a celebrity, get me out of here' which is currently being shown on television here. I started talking about bushtucker trials and green ants, and snakes of course. Then I called for a bedpan, was told they would asap but to wait - too late I said, I wet myself.

The scenario had one of the firefighters taking a fall in the stairwell and becoming very badly injured, this held up the evacuation so we were waiting in the corridors for quite sometime which had me complaining that we are not in the NHS so get us out of the corridor, I would write to my deputy (like an MP).

Finally they moved the fireman who had spinal and head injuries and I think they used a helicopter to fly him to the UK as the airport was closed by fog - they do make life difficult for themselves. We then started to be moved again, I was slid down the two flights of stairs by a number of tasty firemen. We were then moved into the hospital chapel as a triage station where doctors, nurses and others took over our care.

The exercise finished shortly after 8.30pm for us although I think the firemen had more to do in their part.

There were some photos in the local newspaper, the JEP, and I show them here. The first is me being pulled off my bed, the second is another 'patient' being dragged down the stairs, she didn't get firemen! I was also shown on television yesterday being dragged along the smokey corridor then with my firemen on the stairs.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/sue943/General/2015%20November%205.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/sue943/General/2015%20November%206.jpg

Roll on the next exercise, they really are great fun, and of course deadly serious as without the practice our emergency services perhaps would have difficulties if in genuine situations.

Practice is important for knowing what to do when a fire breaks out. I know from recent experience.

To make it real, you should do it at night, with all the lights out, and blindfolded. You won't be able to see anything within a minute or two. Do you have fire extinguishers painted in the standard red? When was the last time you checked the date on them? They do need to be serviced because they can expire and be useless. Be warned: you also won't be able to find those red extinguishers in thick, black, swirling, choking smoke. They should all be painted in glow in the dark colors because it will be darker than anything you've seen in your life.

I hope no one reading this ever learns what I've learned.

Note: MY firemen!! (some people would go to any length.
I agree Mira Jane, your experience was one no one wants and the practice sessions are really important.
Well done Sue it sound like a really fun experience as a pretend.

Something similar where I am...I live near the Quantico Marine Corps Base, and there are times that they are booming loud enough I can hear it from where I am. They call it "war games" and the major roadway I use to drive to and from work, I pass three different ranges (a fourth is just up the road but I turn off beforehand). If they are in the range to the north or first one to the south, they are the loudest.

Poor MiraJane...a fire is not something I'd want to deal with in real life!

I agree that to be in a real fire would be most distressing, as indeed would being involved in any of the other practice incidents that I have been involved in over the past nine years. For that reason it is vital that these practices take place so that the emergency services gain vital experience without risk to property or persons.